MLA Slams Magherafelt Bombers

A pipe bomb-type device - which police described as "viable" - was found outside a house in Magherafelt area just after midnight on Wednesday and has now been made safe by the Army.

A number of people who had to leave their homes in the Sandy Braes area as a result of the incident have now returned and the alert is over.

Two other alerts in Belfast, on the Springfield Road in the west of the city and Loopland Gardens in the east, were said today to be hoaxes.

Commenting on the Magherafelt incident, DUP MLA Ian McCrea said: "This device could have resulted in the loss of innocent life and I am utterly disgusted by this mindless action.

"This incident has caused the local residents a lot of distress and disruption with people being evacuated from their homes so late at night."

Speaking as both an MLA and an NI Policing Board member, Ian McCrea, also hit out the republicans behind the bomb and voiced his disgust at the 'Real' IRA who took responsibility for planting a viable device in Magherafelt.

Just after attending the scene Ian McCrea said: "I totally condemn the leaving of a viable device in the Sandy Braes area of Magherafelt. A child or a passer by could have detonated this device and I am utterly disgusted by this mindless action.

"The thugs responsible for this incident are fighting for nothing and they do not have the support of the community: in fact the opposite is the case.

"I would also like to commend the swift action of the local police and also the Army's Bomb Disposal Unit for safely disarming the viable device."

An East Belfast Alliance representatives has condemned those involved in the alert at Loopland Gardens near the Castlereagh Road.

"I am disgusted that anyone can bring themselves to cause disruption like we have seen in this area today. People are totally sick of the few nasty individuals who are trying to have a negative impact on their everyday lives."

Colleague, Cllr Máire Hendron added: "This incident is particularly sickening given that a number of people had to leave their homes as a result of this alert. Those behind this need to be swiftly brought to justice because they have absolutely no place in our society."

(BMcC/GK)